Meningitis on the rise

Cases of meningitis, which have been occurring since mid-December, have risen dramatically in the CAR, along with neighbouring Chad and Niger, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reported in late April. In the CAR, as of 28 March, 205 people out of 1,111 cases, had died - a mortality rate of 18.4 percent. All areas of the CAR were affected, with northwest and central regions most severely stricken. Many cases had also been reported in the capital Bangui, mostly among children, the Federation noted. The ministry of health has set up an epidemiological surveillance cell, which includes international governmental and non-governmental organisations, and vaccination has begun in some areas, although the Federation warned there was a shortage of vaccines.